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Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K100D

Portability
66
Imaging
57
Features
81
Overall
66
Nikon D5100 front
 
Pentax K100D front
Portability
64
Imaging
45
Features
36
Overall
41

Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K100D Key Specs

Nikon D5100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Expand to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 560g - 128 x 97 x 79mm
  • Introduced April 2011
  • Older Model is Nikon D5000
  • Successor is Nikon D5200
Pentax K100D
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 660g - 129 x 93 x 70mm
  • Announced December 2006
  • Newer Model is Pentax K100D S
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Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K100D Overview

Lets look closer at the Nikon D5100 and Pentax K100D, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Pentax. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the D5100 (16MP) and K100D (6MP) but they feature the exact same sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The D5100 was brought out 4 years later than the K100D and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before diving in to a full comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the D5100 scores against the K100D with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D5100 over the Pentax K100D

 D5100 K100D 
AnnouncedApril 2011December 2006More recent by 54 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution921k210kCrisper display (+711k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Pentax K100D over the Nikon D5100

 K100D D5100 

Common features in the Nikon D5100 and Pentax K100D

 D5100 K100D 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K100D Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to factor in its weight and size. The Nikon D5100 offers outside measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs) whilst the Pentax K100D has specifications of 129mm x 93mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8") with a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Check out the Nikon D5100 and Pentax K100D in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose at that time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the D5100 versus the K100D.

Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K100D size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the D5100 and K100D is 66 and 64 respectively.

Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K100D top view buttons comparison

Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K100D Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to envision the difference between sensor measurements purely by reviewing technical specs. The photograph here may offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the D5100 and K100D.

As you have seen, the two cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Nikon D5100 to offer more detail having its extra 10MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images much more aggressively. The fresher D5100 will have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K100D sensor size comparison

Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K100D Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K100D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D5100 Portrait photography features
Pentax K100D Portrait photography features
74
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
51
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no liveview
megapixel count low (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon D5100
Street photography with Pentax K100D
67
screen articulates
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
58
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no moving screen
heavier than competition in class (660 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon D5100
Sports photography with Pentax K100D
64
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
better than average battery (660 shots)
supports phase detect autofocus
slow frames per second (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
47
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
no liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D5100 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K100D as a Travel photography camera
77
better than average battery (660 per charge)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
42
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition in class (660g)
megapixel count low (6MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D5100 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K100D as a Landscape photography camera
73
has manual focus
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (660 shots)
no image stabilization
52
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen is small (2.5")
no liveview
megapixel count low (6 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon D5100
Vlogging with Pentax K100D
69
screen is selfie friendly
provides face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with mic port
no image stabilization
9
no video
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Nikon D5100 vs Pentax K100D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D5100 and Pentax K100D
 Nikon D5100Pentax K100D
General Information
Brand Nikon Pentax
Model type Nikon D5100 Pentax K100D
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-04-26 2006-12-03
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed 2 -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.6 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 370.5mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 6 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Max resolution 4928 x 3264 3008 x 2008
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Max enhanced ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 11
Cross type focus points 1 -
Lens
Lens support Nikon F Pentax KAF
Total lenses 309 151
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.5"
Screen resolution 921 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 96%
Viewfinder magnification 0.52x 0.57x
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/200s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format MPEG-4 -
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 560g (1.23 lb) 660g (1.46 lb)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") 129 x 93 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 80 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.6 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1183 not tested
Other
Battery life 660 images -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID EN-EL14 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC card
Storage slots One One
Launch price $0 $0